Who Was First to Fly?

Blue Ridge Country magazine, Oct/Nov 2017 issue, has a very nice story with great photography by Joe Tennis about Micajah Clark Dyer. You can see the article which was posted by Visit Blairsville GA here:  www.visitblairsvillega.com   http://www.visitblairsvillega.com/fullpanel/uploads/files/brcnd17-aviation.pdf
    Of course, Micajah Clark Dyer was the first to fly a controllable airplane!  He is truly Georgia's Pioneer Aviator having patented and flown an aircraft in the1870s. After you read the article (PDF link above), you can learn more about Clark in the older posts below.

Ford Tri-Motor 1929 Airplane takes to the sky

An interesting article posted recently by Scott Kimbler, a reporter for AccessWDUN, says Ford has built a replica of a 1929 airplane, and now passenger flights in it are available at the Lee Gilmer Memorial Airport in Gainesville, Georgia.

Kimbler says the plane is owned by the Experimental Aircraft Association , and the Gainesville Chapter has brought the plane to Lee Gilmer Memorial Airport for people to enjoy flights into history.

According to Kimbler, the Ford Tri-Motor was built in 1929 and was instrumental in ushering in the modern age of commercial flight, as well as airports.

See the video posted of the 1929 airplane in flight and learn some aeronautical history at this link: http://accesswdun.com/article/2017/10/598343/ford-tri-motor-airplane-takes-to-the-sky-in-gainesville

 

Blairsville Airport's new W.C. Nelson Terminal

What a lovely new facility at the Blairsville Airport!

W.C. Nelson Terminal at Blairsville Airport

Posted by:

Blairsville-Union County Chamber of Commerce

· September 6 at 7:30pm ·

Fly in style! The brand new W.C. Nelson terminal at the #BlairsvilleAirport is now open! This beautiful new asset adds to the accessibility of our area, benefiting businesses, tourism, and the community itself. Learn more at http://ow.ly/osO830eVHHv #VisitBlairsville #BelieveIt

Flying To A Mountain Landing Strip

Was Micajah Clark Dyer's runway on Rattlesnake Mountain more dangerous than this one? Watch the video below and decide.

This mountain landing strip in New Guinea took 14 years to complete.  It will make such a dramatic difference in the lives of the local villagers for whom a landing strip represents access to medical supplies, building materials, clothing, food etc.

A huge day in the lives of the natives who live there, and what a test of flying skills for the young pilot! 

Click here to watch:
  http://www.chonday.com/ Videos/runwamaoun5

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Annie Gets Her Library Book, Georgia's Pioneer Aviator

Annie with her book from the library:
Georgia's Pioneer Aviator, Micajah Clark Dyer

    Her mom says, " Annie's book which she had put on hold came in today! I tried to tell her Poppa already has this book but she wanted to read it from the library!" 
    Annie will be ahead of her classmates after learning who flew an airplane back in the 1800s!
    Way to go, Annie! Thank you for your interest in history.
    (Incidentally, Micajah Clark Dyer is her great-great-great-great-great-grandfather!)

Clark Dyer Nominated to Aviation Hall of Fame

http://www.gaaviationhalloffame.com

        Micajah Clark Dyer (1822-1891) has been nominated for induction this year into the Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame at Robins Air Force Base in Warner Robins, Georgia, by Dr. Sylvan R. Dyer. This is the third nomination Clark Dyer has received for this recognition based on his invention of an "Apparatus for Navigating the Air," for which he received U.S. Patent No. 154,654 on September 1, 1874.

        The story leading up this nomination is an amazing one. Dr. Dyer, a great, great grandson of Clark Dyer, was visiting Robins Air Force Base on June 20, 2017, where he viewed the Aviation Hall of Fame and felt strongly impressed to work toward getting Clark inducted since his flying machine was the first navigable aircraft invented and flown in Georgia. When he told the director that he wanted to make the nomination, she told him, “You picked a good time to come because this is the last day to nominate a candidate this year, and I would have been out of the office in one hour!”

        Then and there, Dr. Dyer submitted a formal nomination for induction of Clark into the Hall of Fame.

        The Board of Electors of the Hall of Fame will select inductees from a group of qualified nominees submitted during this fiscal year and, hopefully, Micajah Clark Dyer will take his rightful place of honor within the revered Hall of Fame when the Board makes its inductions in April 2018.

(If you don’t already know the historical account of Clark Dyer’s invention, scroll down through the earlier posts below and learn about this man and his remarkable flying machine.)

An Airplane Builder

Sylvia Dyer Turnage sits in a home built ultra-light airplane

  This ultra-light plane was constructed by a man who builds his own airplanes and flies them over his fields. Amazingly, his airplanes are very simple and he uses machinery and materials that are locally available for building them.
     Here I am sitting in one of them, but I confess that I am not brave enough to fly in it!

Video of Chamber interview on Channel 4

Know your history - On April 4, 2017, Blairsville-Union County Chamber of Commerce President, Regina Allison, interviewed Sylvia Dyer Turnage to learn about a part of history that is not too well known. That history is the saga of the 1874 invention of the flying machine by Micajah Clark Dyer of Union County. The interview was filmed by Mr. Mark Mote of Windstream for broadcasting a number of times on Cable Channel 4 during the month of April. 

      Here is the link to the YouTube video of the interview. Enjoy!

https://youtu.be/1OryL39Zrgs

VTS 01 1

Chamber Connection TV Show Features Micajah Clark Dyer

Display Sept. 2016 at Chamber of Commerce

We are happy to have the history of Micajah Clark Dyer featured in a recent filming by Mr. Mark Mote with Windstream and Ms. Regina Allison, President of the Blairsville Chamber of Commerce. The video will air this week and next, April 11 through April 22, on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10 a.m., 5 p.m. and 8 p.m., and on Saturdays at 11 a.m., 5:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., on Windstream Channel 4. We expect to have a video of the filming available to post here soon.

     Following is an excerpt from the North Georgia News article April 12, 2017, page 4A, Chamber Connection TV Show by Regina Allison:

     "Every 6 weeks, a new episode of the Chamber Connection airs for Union County. In June we will be coming up on our 1 year anniversary of the show. I want to thank Mark Mote and Windstream for the opportunity to share information about our Chamber Members and our amazing community. I also want to thank the guests that have appeared on the show with me thus far; I have enjoyed spending the time with each of you and I have learned a great deal.

     "We recently taped the next episode which will air the weeks of April 11^th through the 22^nd. I enjoyed spending time learning about part of Union County History with Sylvia Dyer Turnage of the Micajah Clark Dyer Foundation. Sylvia has spent a lot of time researching and gathering information about her great, great grandfather, known as Clark Dyer to family and friends, a very talented inventor who studied the way birds flew and wondered, “Why couldn’t a man fly like a bird?” He received the patent on September 1, 1874 for his invention. The purpose of his invention, “navigating the air” as he liked to refer to it, was conceptualized and patented 29 years prior to the Wright Brothers’ famous First Flight. A model of his invention is on display at the Old Union County Courthouse along with a wealth of information about the History of Union County. A special thank you to Union County Historical Society for all that you do to preserve the history of Union County and your involvement in the Chamber and the Community. . . and thank you to Sylvia. . ."
     Please visit our blog posts below to learn more about this remarkable pioneer aviator.

Engraving Completed

     The monument at Micajah Clark Dyer's grave is now identifiable as you approach it descending the cemetery hill from the west. Previously, there was no identification on back of the monument, which caused a few visitors to leave thinking they had come to the wrong cemetery. It was necessary to go all the way to the bottom of the hill where the engraving on front could be viewed to know you were at the right place.
     Thanks to the generosity of friends and relatives of Clark Dyer, engraving was completed this week to add the pertinent information to the back of the monument.

Back of monument

Front of monument

New aircraft and off-road vehicle created in Shreveport!

Flying Magazine says a startup company with the goal of meeting off-road accessibility with the freedom of flight just got the go-ahead from the FAA.

SkyRunner, a flying all-terrain vehicle

On June 16, 2016, Flying Magazine stated:

   “SkyRunner announced this week that its flying all-terrain vehicle has earned S-LSA approval, paving the way for the company to ramp up production at its Shreveport, Louisiana, manufacturing plant.
    “Marketed with the go-anywhere adventurer in mind, the SkyRunner is a four-wheel ATV that uses ram-air parafoil wing technology, or powered-parachute flight, and a three-blade propeller to take to the sky on takeoffs that require about the length of a football field.
    “SkyRunner, which has just two flight controls — left and right steering and a throttle pedal — says its vehicle can reach airspeeds of 45 mph and cruise at the maximum regulated altitude of 10,000 feet.
    “The company says it’s now fulfilling back orders and taking deposits for the two-seater flying ATV, which costs $119,000.”

See the SkyRunner in action in a video produced 9/16/16 by Fox News: 

http://video.foxnews.com/v/5126726392001/new-aircraft-approved-by-faa-is-also-an-off-road-vehicle/?#sp=show-clips

September 1 Proclaimed Micajah Clark Dyer Day

Article in The North Georgia News, Sept 7, 2016, Page 1C:

   "Commissioner Paris said, 'I am very pleased to proclaim September 1, 2016 as Micajah Clark Dyer Day in Union County. September 1, 1874 is the date Mr. Dyer received a patent for his flying machine.'

   "Mr. Dyer invented and flew the machine on his farm in Choestoe Community many years before the Wright brothers’ flight at Kitty Hawk, NC.  Union County and the surrounding counties did not have newspapers at that time, but the story of Mr. Dyer’s invention was reported in dozens of newspapers across the U.S., perhaps also in foreign countries since efforts were being made all over the world at the time to build a machine that could fly. Several neighbors witnessed Mr. Dyer’s flights, and knowledge of his invention was spread by word of mouth throughout the county and beyond.

Exhibit at Chamber of Commerce

   "For the entire month of Septem- ber, the Blairsville Chamber of Commerce has an exhibit in their lobby showcasing Mr. Dyer’s invention. 


   "Chamber member Micajah Clark Dyer Foundation welcomes everyone to come by and see the exhibit and pick up a brochure that has a brief story about Mr. Dyer. It includes the credit he has received to date, plans for future efforts to acquaint the public about this wonderful piece of Union County history, and efforts that will continue into the future to keep the legacy of our pioneer aviator alive. 

   "You can also learn about the story at www.micajahclarkdyer.org."

More 1875 Flying Machine News Reports

Typical front page of an 1875 newspaper

It is always exciting to find newspapers from the 1800s that published articles about Micajah Clark Dyer's flying machine. In our post below dated August 3, 2012, we told about the five 1875 articles newly found by Jim Powell, which brought to 18 the number of different newspapers we had found up to that time.  
       Now we can add five more to the number.  Here are the additional ones just found: 

The Eureka Herald and Greenwood County Republican
Eureka, Kansas
Thursday, July 22, 1875 - page 3
A Ship with Wings and Paddle Wheels
"Mr. Micajah Dyer of Union County, Blairsville, Ga., recently obtained a patent for an apparatus for navigating the air..."

The Junction City Weekly Union
Junction City, Kansas
Saturday, July 17, 1875 - page 4
A Ship with Wings and Paddle Wheels

The Advertiser-Courier
Hermana, Missouri
Saturday, July 17, 1875 - page 3
A Ship with Wings and Paddle Wheels

The Recorder-Tribune
Holton, Kansas
Thursday, July 22, 1875 - page 3
A Ship with Wings and Paddle Wheels

The Sedalia Democrat
Sedalia, Missouri
Saturday, July 17, 1875 - page 1
(story reported on front page without a title)

     There were no newspapers in Union County or its adjoining counties in 1874 when Clark Dyer was granted a patent for his flying machine, but it obviously was big news across the United States. It is very likely that there were more newspapers than the 23 we have located that reported the story.  In fact, we speculate that the story was reported in Europe and Australia, as well, because attempts were being made all over the world at that time to design a machine that would fly.

Pal-V Flying Car

"Rockets Are Cool" presents the flying car.  It moves on the road as impressively as it does when converting to a plane.

See it in action.  Click the link PAL-V Flying Car below, then click again on the link that pops up.

Rockets Are Cool added a new video: PAL-V Flying Car.  

 Rockets Are CoolFor those interested, here's some more info on PAL-V:http://bit.ly/1kCzOJ2 :)PAL-V | Ultimate Freedom

Wings Over North Georgia Airshow

Enjoy a preview of Wings Over North Georgia Airshow

SUPER HORNET TAC DEMO TEAM - Yes, Lt. "Gump" Miller and his USN Hornet Team is tuning up his twin turbines for the 2016 WingsOverNorthGeorgia.com air show weekend on Oct 29-30th at Rome's Russell Regional Airport...USAF Thunderbirds - Travis Tritt - Camping - Fireworks...Get your front row seats now!

US Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet Twilight Demonstration - EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2016    

The US Navy's F/A-18F Super Hornet demonstration team from VFA-106 "Gladiators" performs at sunset during the 2016 EAA AirVenture airshow in Oshkosh, WI. Watch the brilliant afterburner pop against the dusk sky as the flight crew throws it through various maneuvers!

 …youtube.com

Born to Fly

We share a very special story by way of a video, Born to Fly, about a 92-year-old female WWII Pilot who flies her plane again, after 70 years! We're so proud of Spitfire pilot Joy Lofthouse.
https://www.facebook.com/borntoflypage/videos/1701607246723015/?fref=nf

 

She is a kindred spirit of Micajah Clark Dyer.

Flying Apparatus by Clark Dyer's 7th Great Granddaughter

Little Miss Ellie Stewart holding her flying apparatus

This is little Miss Ellie Stewart, daughter of Chasity Dyer Stewart, holding her flying apparatus. Her mother says: "It's a Dyer thing. This is Ellie's example of Micajah's (her 7th Great Grandfather) flying apparatus. It's in her blood."

Thanks for sharing with us, Chasity. We love it!

A Fitting Name for an Airport

This airport looks like it should be named the Micajah Clark Dyer Airport, doesn't it?

Model of Clark Dyer's Airplane in Museum

The wings on the model are left uncovered to show how Clark's design allowed him to move the wings to navigate the airplane. The wings could be tilted upward and downward in four directions.  

The to-scale model of Clark Dyer's airplane is on display in the Union County Historical Society Museum in the Old Courthouse on the Square.  You can scroll down and click on "Older Posts" to learn about the building of the model by Jack Allen of Blairsville, GA.

Donating through AmazonSmile

Don’t forget . . . you can always support the Micajah Clark Dyer Foundation by logging into AmazonSmile.com when you make purchases online from Amazon.

How to do this?

• Before you shop, go to smile.amazon.com

• Then sign in using your regular Amazon account.

• Choose a nonprofit from the list on spotlight. Make sure you choose Micajah Clark Dyer Foundation, Inc.

Then you’re good to go. This is a wonderful and easy way to donate to the Foundation at no cost to you while doing your own shopping.

This airport looks like it should be named the Micajah Clark Dyer Airport,

doesn't it?